Contest between NCP candidate Bhagirath Bhalke, BJP’s Samadhan Autade today
The byelection in Pandharpur Assembly constituency in Solapur district on Saturday amid the COVID-19 surge in Maharashtra poses a tough test to the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
The seat became vacant following the death of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Bharat Bhalke owing to COVID-19 complications in November last year. Both the MVA and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed the upper hand in the electoral campaign, which concluded on Thursday. The result will be declared on May 2.
While the NCP has fielded Bhalke’s son Bhagirath, the BJP has given its ticket to Samadhan Autade, who contested the 2019 poll as an Independent and secured 54,124 votes. In 2019, the BJP’s Sudhakar Paricharak polled 76,426 votes, and Bhalke won 89,787 votes. According to the BJP, the combined votes secured by Paricharak and Mr. Autade last time are enough to ensure the party’s win this year.